Electric semaphore-signal mechanism.



No. 767,256. PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904.

' B. O. WAGNER.

ELECTRIC SEMAPHORE SIGNAL MECHANISM.

APILIOATION FILED my 7, 190a.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H0 MODEL.

//v VEN 70/? B. 0, l i/qyner PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904.

B. 0. WAGNER. ELECTRIC SBMAPHORE SIGNAL MECHANISM.

APPLIOATIOR FILED HAY 7, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 HGDEL.

WITNESSES.-

No. 767,256. C 1 PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904 B. 0. WAGNER.

ELECTRIC SEMAPHORE SIGNAL MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7 1903.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES; m vslvro/a B. 0; Wayne Vfiw UQZ J A TTOHNEYS.

No. 767,256. PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904.

' .B. O. WAGNER.

ELECTRIC SEMAPHORE SIGNAL MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7., 1903. N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES."

(EM/Lav IN VENTOH B0. Wagner".

UNITED STATES Patented August 9, I904.

PATENT @FFICE.

BRUNO OTTO WAGNER, OF AMSTERDAM, NEl/V YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE MAGNETOELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF AMSTER- DAM, NEWV YORK.

ELECTRIC SEIVIAPHORE-SIGNAL IVIECHANHSM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,256, dated. August9, 1904.

Application filed May 7, 1903. Serial No. 156,034. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BRUNO OTTO WAGNER, a subject of the Emperor ofGermany, residing in Amsterdam, in the county of Montgomery and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricSemaphore-Signal Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electrically-operatedsemaphore mechanisms, including a movable signal-blade; and it primarilyseeks to provide electrically controlled and operated means for shiftingsaid blade to either of its signaling positions.

In its more generic nature my invention embodies an electric motor foroperating the semaphore-blade, said motor being adapted for operation ona three-phase electric circuit in which is included three mainconductors and a neutral wire therefor. The electric motor also includesmeans for short-circuiting one phase of the circuit at predeterminedtimes whereby to cause a current to flow through the neutral wire andoperate an indicating-bell at the signal-operating station, so that theoperator may readily ascertain when the signal-blade on the semaphore isset to its proper position.

A further object of my invention is to so arrange the circuits that thethree main wires are equalized to prevent any current flowing throughthe neutral wire during the operation of the motor and also to preventany current flowing through the neutral wire while the motor isinoperative after the semaphore is set.

Specifically, my invention consists in the novel construction andcombination of parts, which will first be described in detail and thenspecifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View ofmy systern complete. Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of thegenerator and motor circuits. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of thesemaphore-blade in a position intermediate the safety and dangerposition and the manner of fastening the same to the pole. Fig 3 is aside elevation, parts being in section, of the semaphore-operating motormechanism. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig.5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is acrosssection on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of oneof the contact-makers. Fig. 8 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 9 is adiagrammatic view of a slightly-modified form of my invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals andletters of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, 1designates the semaphore-pole, near the upper end of which is mounted,upon a bracket 2 the signal-light 3, which may be of any approvedconstruction. Secured to the pole near its upper end by bolts 4 orotherwise is a metallic plate 5, from which a stud 6 is projected andupon which stud is fulcrumed a semaphore-blade 7,having the usualcolor-disk 9, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4E. Fulcrumed upon thesaid stud 6 between the plate 5 and the semaphore-blade 7 and rigidlysecured to the semaphore-blade by screws 7 a is a second plate 10,having circumferential notches 10 10, with which at predetermined timesa catch 11, fulcrumed at 11 on the stud 12 upon the base-plate 5, isadapted to engage. The catch 11 has a finger portion 11", which seats inone of the circumferential notches 10 10 of the plate 10 when'thesignal-blade 7 is at either of its signaling positions, and the saidcatch 11 is normally held with its finger 11 in engagement with thecircumferential portion 10 of the plate 10 by a coil-spring 13, securedat one end to the stud 13, carried by the catch 11, and at the other endto the stud 13 on the base-plate 5. (See Figs. 3 and 4..) When the bladeis in its horizontal or danger position, the finger 11 engages the notch10. and when the blade is in its down or safety position the finger 11engages the notch 10. The semaphore-blade is shown as moving from oneposition to another in Fig. 3. It must be understood, however, that theblade does not normally remain in said position at any time.

Pivotally secured at 14c to the semaphoreblade is a fiat rod-section 14,having a circular portion 14, adapted to lit into and to be secured tothe upper end of a hollow tubular rod 15, carrying at its lower end asimilar flat rod-section 16 for a purpose presently to appear.

At a suitable point below the semaphoreblade a second metallic plate 17is secured to the pole 1, and on this plate the motor M is mounted. Byreferring now more particularly to Figs. 3, 5, and 6 it will be seenthat the motor M consists of a casing or shell 18, of a magneticmaterial, such as iron or steel, and the said casing is open at one end,whereby access may be had to the parts mounted within the casing.Integrally and internally formed with the shell or casing 18 is a web19, against which a field-core 20, which may be laminated, if desired,fits, and the said fieldcore is held in place by a ring 21, secured bybolts 22 to the casing or shell 18. A cap 23, having acentrally-disposed bearing 24:, in which and in another bearing, 25, inthe side wall 18 of the casing the armatureshaft is mounted, is fittedover the open end of the casing 18. The armature A, which is of theWell-known squirrel-cage type, consists of a solid or laminated ironcore 27 and the spaced conductors 28, insulated from each other and thecore 27 in the usual manner and short-circuited at their ends byconducting-rings 29, with which the conductors 28 are in electricalcontact, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

Integrally formed upon the top of the mo tor-casing is a pair ofbearings 30, in which is mounted a shaft 31, carrying at one end agear-wheel 32, having a crank 33, to which a rod 3 1, pivotally securedat its lower end to one end of a rockable lever 35, is fulcrumed. Thelever is in turn fulcrumed to a bracket 36 on the base 17, and the fiatrod-section 16 of the rod 15 is pivotally secured to the other end ofthe said lever 35.

Mounted upon the top of the casing 18 and securely held by bolts 37 37 ais a stout flat spring 38, with which an arm 39, secured to and movablewith the shaft 30, is adapted to cooperate for a purpose presentlyunderstood. The tension of the spring 38 may be regulated by adjustingthe bolts 37.

To the end of the shaft 31 opposite the gear 32 a second arm 40 isfixedly secured, which arm within predetermined times engages a plunger&1 of mercury contacts 42. (Best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, by reference towhich it will be seen the contacts 42 each consists of a cupshapedmetallic portion &3, having a bracket 44:, by which the contacts aresecured to the cap 23 by bolts A5.) The cup-shaped portion A3 has aninternal bore within which is mounted a glass or other insulating tube46, adapted to contain. mercury A7 in contact with the bottom of thebore in the cup-shaped portion 43 as shown.

Upon the upper end of the tube 46 is secured a second metallic member-19, having an apertured extension 50, in whichaplunger 41 is movable.The plunger 41 has a cap portion 41, between which and aninsulatingblock 51 is a coil-spring 52 for holding the plunger with itscontacting end 41 out of engagement with the mercury 47. Said end isscrew threaded to receive a check-nutalto prevent the accidentalwithdrawal of the plunger. To secure the parts together,I providescrewbolts 53 53, which pass through apertures in the insulated block 51and engage with the screw-threaded apertures in the extensions A3 of themetallic cup-shaped portion 47. (See Figs. 7 and 8.)

The screw-bolts 4:8 serve as bindingscrews for the circuit-terminal.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that Iprovide a generator G, consisting of an armature A and a suitableconstant field F, for producing a three-phase current. The armature Areceives motion in the preferred form of my invention from the handpower-wheel 60, having a crank 61, and over the rim thereof takes a belt62, which passes over a pulley 63 on the armature-shaft. The armature Aof the generator Gr is provided with three separate coils 65 66 67, eachof which have their endings connected to the insulated collector-ring 68on the armature-shaft, while the other ends y, the beginnings of thecoils 65 66 67, are connected to the separate collector-rings 69 70 71,also mounted and insulated on the armature-shaft. The main-wireterminals 72 73 7 1 connect through brushes 72 7 3 74k to thecollector-rings 69 7O 71 to the coils 65 66 67, respectively, while theneutral wires 75, to which is connected an indicating-bell B, as shown,connect through the brush 7 5 with the collector-ring 68. The generatorG and bell B are preferablylocated ata signal tower or station.

The motor M has three field-coils 8O 81 82, whose endings 11: areconnected to the cupshaped portion &3 of the mercury contacts 42 and theneutral wire 75, while the other beginnings of the coils 8O 81 82 arerespectively connected to the main wires 72 73 7 One of the beginningsof one of the coils is connected to the binding-screws 18, which are inelectrical contact with the plunger 11. (See Fig. 2.)

The armatureshaft of the motor M carries a pinion 32 with which thegear-wheel 32 meshes, whereby motion is imparted to the said gear-wheelwhen the motor is in operation.

So far as described the operation of my invention will be best explainedas follows: Assuming the semaphore-blade to be in the position shown inFig. 1, the operator desiring to set the blade to its lowermost positionturns the crank 61 in the direction of the arrow marked Down, therebyrotating the armatureA and starting up a current in the coils 66 67,which passes over the line-wire 7 2 73 74 into the field-coil of themotor. This causes induction-currents in the squirrel-cage armature A,which then revolves in the direction indicated in Fig. 2, impartingmotion to the gear 32, which causes the contact-operating arm 40 and thespring-engaging arm '39 to move in the direction indicated by the arrowin Fig. 2. This causes the semaphoreblade 2 to be lowered through themedium of the rods 15 34, lever 35, and crank 33, it beingunderstood thecontact-operating arm LO does not come into engagement with the plungerlel until the notch 1O has passed the finger 11 of the catch 11. As thenotch 10 passes the linger ll the arm 39 will engage the spring 38 andpush it down toward the casing 18. As the semaphore-blade reaches thelimit of its downward movement the contact-operating arm 40 will engagethe plunger a1 and press it down to close the circuit. This casues ashort-circuiting of the coil of the motor-field, and thereby disturbsthe electrical and inductive equilibrium between the coils 80 81 82,which causes a current to pass through the neutral wire 7 5 and operatethe indicatingbell B. The operator upon the striking of the bell Bceases turning the crank 61, thereby stopping the generator G and causesthe flow of current to the motor to stop. The spring 38 then pushes thearm 39 up until the semaphore-blade is in the proper position with thefinger 11 in engagement with the notch 10. Since the finger ll engagesthe notch 10, the parts when once set will be steadily held in theirproper positions. The return movement imparted to the shaft 31 by thespring 38 also serves to release the arm 40 from the plunger 41, andthereby allows the plunger 41 to recede and open thecircuits at thecontacts 42, again bringing the circuits ,in their normal relations. Nowshould the operator desire to return the semaphore-blade to itshorizontal position he merely reverses the direction of rotation of thecrank 6la'. a, in the direction indicated by the arrow marked Up-whenthe same series of operations just described are repeated. The currentgenerated in the generator-aramature coils being reversed by reason ofthe reverse rotation of the armature, the motor will rotate in theopposite direction and raise the semaphore-blade. hen the poles 1 arelocated at some distance away from the operating-tower, I prefer to usea static transformer T, held to raise the elcctromotive force of thecircuit. (See Fig. 9.) I may also find it more convenient to have thegenerator Ur power-driven,as shown in Fig. 9, and when this is the caseI use a reversingswitch S in the main-wire circuits, as clearly shown insaid Fig. 9.

IVhile l have shown but a single semaphoreblade, I desire it understoodthat I may operate a plurality of semaphore-blades by the samegenerator, and when such is the case I provide suitable cut-in andcut-out switches (not shown) for each circuit.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be seen that the signal-bell is not runguntil after the semaphoreblade has passed its proper indicating positionand that the instant the current ceases to flow from the generator thespring upon the motor-casing will return the semaphore a short distanceuntil it reaches its proper indicating position.

I Moving the semaphore-blade to its locked position by spring-pressurepermits the motor to be always started without any current in theneutral wire.

Other advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which it appertains.

To protect the motor mechanism from the weather, I provide a cover C,bolted to the plate 17 as shown. 4

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A signal mechanism of the character stated, comprising in combinationwith a semaphore-blade, means for raising and lowering said blade saidmeans including an electric motor, an alarm in circuit with said motoradapted for operation when the semaphoreblade has passed its signalingposition, and means for automatically returning said blade to itssignaling position at predetermined times.

2. A signal mechanism of the character stated, comprising in combinationwith a semaphore-blade, means for raising and lowering said blade saidmeans including an electricmotor, an alarm in circuit with said motoradapted for operation when the semaphoreblade has passed its signalingposition, means for automatically returning said blade to its signalingposition after the electric motor ceases to operate as such, and meansfor locking the said blade to either ofits signaling positions.

3'. A signal mechanism of the character stated, comprising incombination with a semaphore-blade, means for raising and lowering saidblade said means including an electric motor. an alarm in circuit withsaid motor adapted for operation when the semaphoreblade has passed itssignaling position, means for automatically returning said blade to itssignaling position after the electric motor ceases to operate as such,means for locking the said blade to either of its signaling positions,said means including a circumferentially-apertured plate and a catch forengaging the same. 7

4. A signal mechanism of thecharacter stated, comprising in combinationwith a semaphore-blade, means for raising and lowering ill;

said blade said means including an electric motor, an alarm in circuitwith said motor adapted for operation when the semaphore-blade haspassed its signaling position, means for automatically returning saidblade to its signaling position after the electric motor ceases tooperate as such, means for locking the said blade to either of itssignaling positions, said means including a circumferentially aperturcdplate carried by the blade and a catch for engaging the same.

5. A signal mechanism of the character stated, comprising in combinationwith a semaphore-blade, means for raising and lowering said blade, saidmeans including an electric motor, an alarm in circuit with said motoradapted for operation when the semaphoreblade has passed its signalingposition, means for automatically returning said blade to its signalingposition after the electric motor ceases to operate as such, and meansfor locking the said blade to either of its signaling positions, saidmeans including a circumferentially-apertured plate carried by theblade, and a catch having a finger for cooperating with saidcircumferential apertures of the plate whereby to lock the blade in itssignal position.

6. A signal mechanism of the character stated, comprising in combinationwith a semaphore-blade, means for setting the blade to each of itssignaling positions, said means including a three-phased electric motor,means for operating said motor, said means including a three-phasedgenerator, main-line wires for conducting the current from the generatorto the motor, and a neutral wire connecting the generator and motor, analarm-bell operatively connected to said neutral wire, means forenergizing said neutral wire at predetermined times, for the purposesspecified.

7. In a semaphore mechanism of the character described, asemaphore-blade, means for raising and lowering said blade atpredetermined times, said means including a threephased generator andmotor, a neutral-wire connection between the generator armaturecoils andthe motor field-coils, a signal-bell connected in series with saidneutral wire, and means for energizing said neutral wire atpredetermined times, for the purposes specified.

8. In a semaphore mechanism of the character described, asemaphore-blade, means for raising and lowering said blade atpredetermined times, said means including a threephased generator andmotor, a neutral-wire connection between the generator armaturecoils andthe motor field-coils, a signal-bell connected in series with saidneutral wire, means for short-eircuiting one coil of the motor atpredetermined times, for the purposes described.

9. In a semaphore mechanism of the character described, asemaphore-blade, means for raising and lowering said blade atpredetermined times, said means including a threephased generator andmotor, a neutral-wire connection between the generator armaturecoils andthe motor field-coils, a signal-bell connected in series with saidneutral wire, means for short-circuiting one coil of the motor atpredetermined times, whereby to cause a current to flow through theneutral wire and operate the signaling-bell.

10. In a semaphore mechanism of the character described, asemaphore-blade, means for raising and lowering said blade atpredetermined times, said means including a threephased generator andmotor, a neutral-wire connection between the generator armaturecoils andthe motor field-coils, a signal-bell connected in series with saidneutral wire, means for short-circuiting one coil of the motor atpredetermined times, whereby to cause a current to flow through theneutral wire and operate the signaling-bell, said motor-coilshort-circuiting means including a contactmaker carried by the motor.

11. In a signaling mechanism of the character stated, a three-phasedcurrent-generator, a motor connected therewith, said motor having itsfield-coils in circuit with the armaturecoils of the generator, aneutral Wire connecting said generator and motor-coils, a signalbellconnected in series With said neutral wire, means carried and operatedby the motor for short-circuiting one motor field-coil whereby to causea current to flow through the neutral wire and operate the signal-bell,for the purposes specified.

12. A signaling mechanism of the character stated, comprising incombination with a semaphore blade, a circumferentially apertured diskconnected therewith and a catch for engaging said disk said catch havinga linger portion for cooperating with the circumferential apertures ofthe semaphore-disk, of an operating mechanism for said semaphore-blade,said mechanism including an electric motor, a crank-arm geared with saidmotor and connected with said semaphore-blade, means for operating saidelectric circuits, said means including a neutral wire connected withsaid motor, a signaling-bell cooperatively joined with said neutralwire, contacts carried by the motor casing in electrical connection withsaid neutral wire and with the motoriield, a spring member mounted uponthe motor-casing, an arm for engaging with said spring member as themotor moves the semaphore-blade to the limit of its movement, an armgeared with the motor for engaging said. spring at predetermined times,a second arm movable in unison with the first arm for operating theaforesaid neutral-wire-motor fieldcont-acts whereby the alarm is rung asthe semaphore-blade reaches the limit of its movement in eitherdirection, said spring together with its engaging arm being adapted toreturn the semaphore-blade sufficiently to allow blade, said mechanismincluding an electric.

motor, a crank-arm geared With said motor and connected With saidsemaphoreblade, means for operating said electric motor, said meansincluding a neutral Wire connected With said motor, a signaling-bellcooperatively joined with said neutral Wire, contacts carried by themotor-casing in electrical connection with said neutral Wire and Withthe motorfield, a spring member mounted upon the mo tor -casing, an armfor engaging With said spring member as the motor moves thesemaphore-blade to the limit of its movement, an arm geared with themotor for engaging said spring at predetermined times, a second armmovable in unison with the first arm for operatin g the aforesaidneutral-wire-motor fieldcontacts whereby the alarm is rung as thesemaphore-blade reaches the limit of its movement in either direction,said spring together with its engaging arm being adapted to return thesemaphore-blade sufficiently to allow its catch to engage with one ofthe circumferential apertures of the plate carried by thesemaphore-blade, said spring and its engaging arm also serve todisengage the contact-operating arm from the contact whereby to open themotor field-circuit, for the purposes specified.

14:. In amotor-operating mechanism for electricsemaphore devices, abase-plate, a motor mounted thereon, said motor including an outercasing, bearings integrally formed upon the upper portion of saidcasing, a shaft journaled in said bearings and carrying a gear- Wheel atone end, an armature and an armature-shaft for said motor journaled inthe outer Walls 'of said casing, a pinion on one end of saidarmature-shaft adapted to mesh with said gear-Wheel, a flat springmounted upon the upper portion of said motor-casing, an arm carried bythe shaft carrying the gear- Wheel, for engaging with said spring atpredetermined times, said spring and said arm serving to partiallyrotate said shaft and gear- Wheel at predetermined times, a second armmounted upon the said gear-wheel-carrying shaft, a pair of contactmaking devices mounted upon the motor-casing and adapted to cooperatewith said second arm, said contact-making device serving toshort-circuit an armature-coil of the motor for the purposes specified.

B. OTTO WAGNER.

' Witnesses:

R. B. HOOVER, W. H. NILES.

